CHAPTER XLV. SUPREME JOY.

A year went slowly past, and found Pansy and Juliette still at the

villa; but it was not likely that the latter would be there much

longer, for she had lately made the acquaintance of a handsome young

man, a rich New Yorker, who had wintered in Italy, and who had been so

very much smitten with the charms of Miss Ives that he had proposed

marriage on very short acquaintance, and had been accepted, for he was

the first man who had ever touched her heart since she had lost Norman

Wylde.

In truth, Juliette was very much altered for the better. She had

taken gentle Pansy for her model, and was fast becoming a changed and

improved woman. Not content with owning her fault to Pansy, she had

written to the Wyldes, mother and son, and confessed her folly and her

repentance, declaring that she now loved Pansy as fondly as she had

once hated her, and that her dearest wish now was for the happiness of

the two she had injured so much.

When Arthur Osborne first declared his love to Juliette she had a hard

struggle with her pride, but before she gave him her answer she told

him the whole story of her folly and sin and repentance.

“If you had known this you would not have asked me to be your wife,”

she said sadly.

But she was mistaken, for he reiterated his offer, declaring that he

admired her frankness and believed in her repentance.

“I will help you to forget your bitter past,” he said; then Juliette

gave him a blushing yes.

The betrothal was a month old when, one day, as Pansy sat alone in the

drawing-room of her beautiful home, some visitors were announced, and

Mrs. Wylde, with her daughter and a beautiful little boy, entered the

room.

Pansy sprang up with a little startled cry, and was immediately half

smothered in kisses and embraces from all three.

“Forgive me for my share in your past unhappiness. I had never seen

you, and believed you to be a coarse, ignorant girl, unsuited to my son

in every way,” murmured Mrs. Wylde regretfully.

“Let us forget the past,” answered the noble girl she had injured, as

she drew her child to her breast, wondering, yet not daring to ask,

about his father.

Juliette came in presently, and they met her with the cordiality of old

friends. Then she looked at Pansy.

“Norman is here, too,” she said smilingly, “but I think he was doubtful

of a welcome, and he stopped in the summerhouse. Will you meet him

halfway, Pansy?”

The blush that rose to her face betrayed her heart without words, and

Mrs. Wylde said tenderly:

“Go, dear; we will excuse you.”

Juliette took her trembling hand and led her to the door. Then she

kissed her fondly.

“Bless you both, dear!” she said earnestly, and went back to the guests.

But little Charley, now almost five years old, followed his newfound

mother.

Norman was waiting in the flower-wreathed summerhouse, and at one

glance into each other’s eyes the two read each other’s heart.

“You will not send me away again, my darling!” he murmured, as he

clasped her to his heart in passionate love.

A few weeks sufficed for their second courtship. They were married on

the same day with Arthur Osborne and Juliette Ives. Both the brides

looked wonderfully beautiful, and both the bridegrooms handsome and

happy.

In the spring they all went back to America. Juliette’s home was to be

in New York, but not the least of Pansy’s pleasures was the fact that

she would spend the rest of her life among the dear friends and old

familiar scenes of her beloved Richmond.

THE END.

No. 1165 of the NEW EAGLE SERIES, entitled “His Unbounded Faith,”

by Charlotte M. Stanley, is a fascinating story. The reader will

sympathize with the heroine in the storms of hate and jealousy that

rage around her, but they will breathe a sigh of relief when she finds

a secure haven in her husband’s love and faith.

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79 Seventh Avenue New York City

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Transcriber’s Notes:

Punctuation has been made consistent.

Variations in spelling and hyphenation were retained as they appear in

the original publication, except that obvious typographical errors have

been corrected.

The following change was made:

p. 118: illegible words at the end of the page were assumed to be “so

that I” (long drive to-day so that I)

Love conquers pride; or, Where peace dwelt · 第 45 / 45 章